One last thing about the ending though - there's only one angle on these and it's not the Japanese one, so I can't check, but as far as I can tell, the ending animation is Zenkai Power's, but without the cut-aways - it's just Gohan continually running on the globe. Is that how it's supposed to be for this film?
Yes.
Quote:
So his name is Dr. Uiro in the Japanese? Is Uiro a pun on anything?
Uirō (外郎): Traditional Japanese steamed cake.
Quote:
Wait...the...Shinseiju tree? I figured it would have a different name than 'Tree of Might' in the sub, but...isn't that the tree in Hell from the filler?
The tree in Hell is called "Enseiju" (閻精樹?) which, I guess, means "Yama/Enma essence tree" or something like that. "Shinseiju" (神精樹) means "divine essence tree".
Quote:
The weird robot/slug one keeps saying 'Da!' a lot. Is that supposed to mean something?
That's probably the Japanese copula "da" ("to be").
I've gotta ask jpdbz, do you speak Japanese fluently? You're pretty knowledgeable on all of this, I'm impressed.
Haha, I wish. I know all of the kana characters, the basic grammatical structure (which are actually the easiest parts of the language), some kanji, a bunch of words and phrases, polite and informal speech, and the differences between masculine and feminine speech (all of which I'm self-taught), but not nearly enough to communicate on a fluent level with a native speaker. The stuff I do know comes from about 5 years of study using dictionaries, grammar textbooks and Wikipedia (I know it gets a lot of flack for being an unreliable source for Dragon Ball stuff, but it is quite reliable and useful when it comes to things like language, culture, and so forth), and about that much time watching anime in Japanese and following along with the subtitles, learning to recognize words when I hear them, and matching the grammatical structures with those described in my aforementioned textbooks. Also, I learn things like Dragon Ball name puns from sites like Daizenshuu EX and Kanzentai. In fact, Kanzentai's co-webmaster, Herms, has a guide to Dragon Ball name puns, dates of events, power level guides, and even a personal pronoun guide on Daizenshuu EX's forum in the In-universe discussion section (it's one of the sticky threads). Not everything I know comes from these guides, though. I had to do fairly extensive research to find out what Ginger, Nikki, and Sansho's power-up words meant. But, as someone who is actively learning Japanese, it is quite necessary to always look for opportunities to refine my knowledge whenever possible, so it's benefitial for both of us.
Oh wow, that's pretty amazing jpdbz. Then agian, I can definitely see how just watching a bunch of subbed stuff would help get the basics - with your help and just watching it myself, I've caught on to some vague things at least. And thanks for the links, I have bookmarked every one of those places to peruse slowly now.
Once again, hello guys! I've taken a long enough break once more, so let's dive back in to this before something else shiny floats in front of my face and I get distracted.
Now, once again I'll be reviewing it all disc by disc (though with this first one it'll be shorter, I'll get to why in a second), as that really has proven to work out best for me. Unfortunately, I do not own a Dragon Box Two yet, so for this batch of episodes, it'll be back to Season Sets for me...of all the ones for me to get stuck using Season Sets for, it's on the set that even I think looks pretty bad, gah. However, it's all old news what the Season Sets look like, so I will not be commenting on that at all, and will focus instead on the story and seiyuu performances, as always. Anyway, since the last Dragon Box went into this set's episodes a bit, I'm able to skip a bit further ahead instead of watching just from the start of this particular disc.
So with that all explained, let's finish off that fake Namek filler.
Dragon Ball Z - Episode 043 - The Dragon Balls are All Found! Piccolo-san Will Also Come Back to Life
It says a lot about this cast that I can slip right back into the Japanese audio for this franchise now, and not skip a beat anymore. I guess that's what watching this many episodes can do for you too.
Even though it's filler for the most part in this episode, they've laced it with some other important scenes that, if I recall right, are in the manga, such as Vegeta's questioning the bird/lizard guy about where Freeza is.
...Why is the Piccolo theme playing while Goku is out training when he shouldn't be? Granted, the training Goku is doing here is the very same thing we saw Piccolo do in an earlier episode, it still seems weird to have his theme here.
I got a little chuckle out of Kuririn and Gohan's efforts to stop the giant snowball only turning it into a SPIKED giant snowball. Indiana Jones they're not.
It's a little sad how close they think they are to achieving what they set out into space to do, when they're so very far yet in reality.
And another player in our game has arrived, Kewie! His...voice is not at all what I expected in the Japanese, and in fact, he sounds down-right familiar. I'll have to check on this one...*looks* Hmm, guess maybe I know him from Mezu earlier in the series at least, its Kouji Tatani again.
With Vegeta on his way to Namek now, and Freeza already there (presumably), the story's getting back on course. Actually, if I recall, this is the last fully filler episode for a little while.
Bulma's first thought whenever she's captured always seems to be that they're going to do something perverted to her. Awfully conceited even after all this time, heh.
The giant squid/snail monsters are referred to as the nautili. Another pun perhaps?
Ack, it looks like I was wrong, there's another episode of this fake Namek mess to get through first. Where are you when I need you, Kai?
And the Dragon Boxes and Kai both have spoiled me, I was getting used to having the next time things.
Dragon Ball Z - Episode 044 - A Tough New Enemy! Freeza, Emperor of the Universe
Here's something interesting to note - in the last episode, there was a scene with Kuririn realizing that they hadn't found any Dragon Balls at all, and he looks at the one he found before in his hand only to find a rock. The rock there is just a random rock, no particular shape. When the same scene is played in the last-time thing here however, it's bigger and round, a much more convincing fake Dragon Ball. I'd never noticed that discrepency before.
I can't remember if it says or not, but it hasn't so far and it really seems like the moment has passed - I get the feeling that neither of these aliens, Zarkuro or the other one, were exactly very great people even before landing here, based on the lengths they go to to get off the planet. Actually, I see to remember hearing they were kind of forced onto the planet by something more than the 'cosmic waves', like they were criminals who were dropped off. Was that in the dub, or just something I got somewhere else?
It's funny that the aliens refer to our heroes as 'barbarians' for their strength, and yet they were the ones prepared to leave innocent people trapped on that crappy planet they themselves hate.
Okay, so it was only a half-episode more of fake Namek stuff. I'm sure there's more filler here that I'm forgetting about, but it's probably more padding than straight-up filler.
Wait, how did Kuririn get his hat back? Didn't that thing get lost in the last filler arc? Don't tell me he packed a bunch of those things.
It was probably pretty shocking to new fans when they first saw this, to think that Vegeta was wary of someone more powerful than Vegeta that would actually have him wary.
And as some creepy music plays, Namekians bleed on the ground, and a group of random aliens (one of which sounds like Kermit the Frog in Japanese), we get our first glimpse of Freeza, along with our first...er, hearing, of him. I've heard a lot of great things about this Ryusei Nakao, so he's got a lot to live up to for me here.
Dragon Ball Z - Episode 045 - Vegeta's Ambition! I Am the Greatest Warrior in the Universe!!
I dunno who's voicing him and it'd be impossible to look him up, but the seiyuu voicing the purple alien that comes to eliminate our heroes (the one with the cannon arm) has an infection laugh. And talking about that gun thingie, they never really get into what those are. Clearly it's another piece of regular tech for Freeza's militia, but what does it do per say? Is that actually something it generates that it fires, or does it hone the user's ki into a more powerful blast since doing that yourself seems to be kind of a rarity in space. I'm leaning towards the latter as my guess.
I cracked up when I heard Kuririn spurt out 'Hey, nice, nice!' in Engrish out of nowhere.
It sounded suspiciously like Kewie calls out his own name when he lands and tries to attack Vegeta.
There's not really been a lot for me to say in this episode. Even the fight between Vegeta and Kewie isn't all that exciting really, though it is extremely brutal. With Kewie gone now though, I have to call a decision between the performances. I'm giving the dub a win with Bill Townsley here, as I quite like his weird...there's not really a word for it. Raspy perhaps. Anyway, what he does with his voice for the character is pretty interesting, whereas Kouji Tatani just sort of gets the job done.
In just three episodes, I'm finally on Namek where the real fun has begun! I can't wait to take it further in the next one.
My first response to your viewing on the new forum.
Quote:
Actually, I see to remember hearing they were kind of forced onto the planet by something more than the 'cosmic waves', like they were criminals who were dropped off. Was that in the dub, or just something I got somewhere else?
Huh...it sounds like something familiar. If anything, it might have been in the Ocean dub.
Quote:
I've heard a lot of great things about this Ryusei Nakao, so he's got a lot to live up to for me here.
Don't wanna overhype you, but I think you're in for a treat. Viewing the second Dragon Box was the first time I really experienced Nakao as Freeza--and as much as I love the guy's voice, I was actually halfway skeptical that he could be as good as Chris Ayres' performance. Boy was I wrong.
Can't wait for more of your viewings--because believe you me, I have a LOT to say about the dub in this part of the show.
___________________________________________
"Of course you realize, this means war!" -- Bugs Bunny
Huh...it sounds like something familiar. If anything, it might have been in the Ocean dub.
I'm almost certain I never saw that part of the Ocean dub though. Hmm...maybe I did just read it somewhere.
Quote:
Don't wanna overhype you, but I think you're in for a treat. Viewing the second Dragon Box was the first time I really experienced Nakao as Freeza--and as much as I love the guy's voice, I was actually halfway skeptical that he could be as good as Chris Ayres' performance. Boy was I wrong.
I'll definitely have a lot to say on Freeza's various performances when I get that far, since I've heard a decent amount of all three dub voices, and will have heard a lot of Nakao by then. I'm sure Nakao is gonna impress me greatly, but only time will tell how much so.
Quote:
Can't wait for more of your viewings--because believe you me, I have a LOT to say about the dub in this part of the show.
I look forward to it.
Quote:
RightStuf! is currently having a 40% off sale on FUNimation merchandise, so you can get box two for $35.99.
Ack, don't remind me. I had to dip into my bank savings just to go shopping today, so there's no way I'm gonna be able to do an online order anytime soon.
I DO have a Dragon Box Five though, so I'll be able to use that once I get that far.
Shōgayaki (生姜焼き): Fried ginger pork or beef.
Nodoame (のど飴): Cough drops.
Unajū (うな重): Broiled eel in lacquered wooden box.
-Joey
I've gotta ask jpdbz, do you speak Japanese fluently? You're pretty knowledgeable on all of this, I'm impressed.
Ohhh, so it was too different trees. Guess my theory was mute there then. ^_^;
Thanks as always for the feedback.
I"s: Reaching for a Dream - The Fandom Writer - My Collection
Want your work listed on 'Fandom Writer'? Let me know.
"There are two kinds of folks who sit around thinking about how to kill people. Psychopaths, and mystery writers. I'm the kind that pays better."
its nice to see your reviews gyt. i look forward to start reading them again.
Haha, I wish. I know all of the kana characters, the basic grammatical structure (which are actually the easiest parts of the language), some kanji, a bunch of words and phrases, polite and informal speech, and the differences between masculine and feminine speech (all of which I'm self-taught), but not nearly enough to communicate on a fluent level with a native speaker. The stuff I do know comes from about 5 years of study using dictionaries, grammar textbooks and Wikipedia (I know it gets a lot of flack for being an unreliable source for Dragon Ball stuff, but it is quite reliable and useful when it comes to things like language, culture, and so forth), and about that much time watching anime in Japanese and following along with the subtitles, learning to recognize words when I hear them, and matching the grammatical structures with those described in my aforementioned textbooks. Also, I learn things like Dragon Ball name puns from sites like Daizenshuu EX and Kanzentai. In fact, Kanzentai's co-webmaster, Herms, has a guide to Dragon Ball name puns, dates of events, power level guides, and even a personal pronoun guide on Daizenshuu EX's forum in the In-universe discussion section (it's one of the sticky threads). Not everything I know comes from these guides, though. I had to do fairly extensive research to find out what Ginger, Nikki, and Sansho's power-up words meant. But, as someone who is actively learning Japanese, it is quite necessary to always look for opportunities to refine my knowledge whenever possible, so it's benefitial for both of us.
Here's some of the learning materials I use:
Oxford Beginner's Japanese Dictionary
Japanese: The Manga Way
Langenscheidits Japanese Pocket Dictionary
Japanese In Mangaland: Learning The Basics
The Kanji Dictionary
-Joey
That's awesome, jpdbzrulz4sure. They offer Japanese at my school, which I'm planning to take a few semesters down the road when I have time.
Oh wow, that's pretty amazing jpdbz. Then agian, I can definitely see how just watching a bunch of subbed stuff would help get the basics - with your help and just watching it myself, I've caught on to some vague things at least. And thanks for the links, I have bookmarked every one of those places to peruse slowly now.
I"s: Reaching for a Dream - The Fandom Writer - My Collection
Want your work listed on 'Fandom Writer'? Let me know.
"There are two kinds of folks who sit around thinking about how to kill people. Psychopaths, and mystery writers. I'm the kind that pays better."
Once again, hello guys! I've taken a long enough break once more, so let's dive back in to this before something else shiny floats in front of my face and I get distracted.
Now, once again I'll be reviewing it all disc by disc (though with this first one it'll be shorter, I'll get to why in a second), as that really has proven to work out best for me. Unfortunately, I do not own a Dragon Box Two yet, so for this batch of episodes, it'll be back to Season Sets for me...of all the ones for me to get stuck using Season Sets for, it's on the set that even I think looks pretty bad, gah. However, it's all old news what the Season Sets look like, so I will not be commenting on that at all, and will focus instead on the story and seiyuu performances, as always. Anyway, since the last Dragon Box went into this set's episodes a bit, I'm able to skip a bit further ahead instead of watching just from the start of this particular disc.
So with that all explained, let's finish off that fake Namek filler.
Dragon Ball Z - Episode 043 - The Dragon Balls are All Found! Piccolo-san Will Also Come Back to Life
It says a lot about this cast that I can slip right back into the Japanese audio for this franchise now, and not skip a beat anymore. I guess that's what watching this many episodes can do for you too.
Even though it's filler for the most part in this episode, they've laced it with some other important scenes that, if I recall right, are in the manga, such as Vegeta's questioning the bird/lizard guy about where Freeza is.
...Why is the Piccolo theme playing while Goku is out training when he shouldn't be? Granted, the training Goku is doing here is the very same thing we saw Piccolo do in an earlier episode, it still seems weird to have his theme here.
I got a little chuckle out of Kuririn and Gohan's efforts to stop the giant snowball only turning it into a SPIKED giant snowball. Indiana Jones they're not.
It's a little sad how close they think they are to achieving what they set out into space to do, when they're so very far yet in reality.
And another player in our game has arrived, Kewie! His...voice is not at all what I expected in the Japanese, and in fact, he sounds down-right familiar. I'll have to check on this one...*looks* Hmm, guess maybe I know him from Mezu earlier in the series at least, its Kouji Tatani again.
With Vegeta on his way to Namek now, and Freeza already there (presumably), the story's getting back on course. Actually, if I recall, this is the last fully filler episode for a little while.
Bulma's first thought whenever she's captured always seems to be that they're going to do something perverted to her. Awfully conceited even after all this time, heh.
The giant squid/snail monsters are referred to as the nautili. Another pun perhaps?
Ack, it looks like I was wrong, there's another episode of this fake Namek mess to get through first. Where are you when I need you, Kai?
And the Dragon Boxes and Kai both have spoiled me, I was getting used to having the next time things.
Dragon Ball Z - Episode 044 - A Tough New Enemy! Freeza, Emperor of the Universe
Here's something interesting to note - in the last episode, there was a scene with Kuririn realizing that they hadn't found any Dragon Balls at all, and he looks at the one he found before in his hand only to find a rock. The rock there is just a random rock, no particular shape. When the same scene is played in the last-time thing here however, it's bigger and round, a much more convincing fake Dragon Ball. I'd never noticed that discrepency before.
I can't remember if it says or not, but it hasn't so far and it really seems like the moment has passed - I get the feeling that neither of these aliens, Zarkuro or the other one, were exactly very great people even before landing here, based on the lengths they go to to get off the planet. Actually, I see to remember hearing they were kind of forced onto the planet by something more than the 'cosmic waves', like they were criminals who were dropped off. Was that in the dub, or just something I got somewhere else?
It's funny that the aliens refer to our heroes as 'barbarians' for their strength, and yet they were the ones prepared to leave innocent people trapped on that crappy planet they themselves hate.
Okay, so it was only a half-episode more of fake Namek stuff. I'm sure there's more filler here that I'm forgetting about, but it's probably more padding than straight-up filler.
Wait, how did Kuririn get his hat back? Didn't that thing get lost in the last filler arc? Don't tell me he packed a bunch of those things.
It was probably pretty shocking to new fans when they first saw this, to think that Vegeta was wary of someone more powerful than Vegeta that would actually have him wary.
And as some creepy music plays, Namekians bleed on the ground, and a group of random aliens (one of which sounds like Kermit the Frog in Japanese), we get our first glimpse of Freeza, along with our first...er, hearing, of him. I've heard a lot of great things about this Ryusei Nakao, so he's got a lot to live up to for me here.
Dragon Ball Z - Episode 045 - Vegeta's Ambition! I Am the Greatest Warrior in the Universe!!
I dunno who's voicing him and it'd be impossible to look him up, but the seiyuu voicing the purple alien that comes to eliminate our heroes (the one with the cannon arm) has an infection laugh. And talking about that gun thingie, they never really get into what those are. Clearly it's another piece of regular tech for Freeza's militia, but what does it do per say? Is that actually something it generates that it fires, or does it hone the user's ki into a more powerful blast since doing that yourself seems to be kind of a rarity in space. I'm leaning towards the latter as my guess.
I cracked up when I heard Kuririn spurt out 'Hey, nice, nice!' in Engrish out of nowhere.
It sounded suspiciously like Kewie calls out his own name when he lands and tries to attack Vegeta.
There's not really been a lot for me to say in this episode. Even the fight between Vegeta and Kewie isn't all that exciting really, though it is extremely brutal. With Kewie gone now though, I have to call a decision between the performances. I'm giving the dub a win with Bill Townsley here, as I quite like his weird...there's not really a word for it. Raspy perhaps. Anyway, what he does with his voice for the character is pretty interesting, whereas Kouji Tatani just sort of gets the job done.
In just three episodes, I'm finally on Namek where the real fun has begun! I can't wait to take it further in the next one.
I"s: Reaching for a Dream - The Fandom Writer - My Collection
Want your work listed on 'Fandom Writer'? Let me know.
"There are two kinds of folks who sit around thinking about how to kill people. Psychopaths, and mystery writers. I'm the kind that pays better."
My first response to your viewing on the new forum.
Huh...it sounds like something familiar. If anything, it might have been in the Ocean dub.
Don't wanna overhype you, but I think you're in for a treat. Viewing the second Dragon Box was the first time I really experienced Nakao as Freeza--and as much as I love the guy's voice, I was actually halfway skeptical that he could be as good as Chris Ayres' performance. Boy was I wrong.
Can't wait for more of your viewings--because believe you me, I have a LOT to say about the dub in this part of the show.
"Of course you realize, this means war!" -- Bugs Bunny
"Here we gooooo!" -- Mario
RightStuf! is currently having a 40% off sale on FUNimation merchandise, so you can get box two for $35.99.
Ends on May 26.
-Joey
I'm almost certain I never saw that part of the Ocean dub though. Hmm...maybe I did just read it somewhere.
I'll definitely have a lot to say on Freeza's various performances when I get that far, since I've heard a decent amount of all three dub voices, and will have heard a lot of Nakao by then. I'm sure Nakao is gonna impress me greatly, but only time will tell how much so.
I look forward to it.
Ack, don't remind me.
I had to dip into my bank savings just to go shopping today, so there's no way I'm gonna be able to do an online order anytime soon.
I DO have a Dragon Box Five though, so I'll be able to use that once I get that far.
I"s: Reaching for a Dream - The Fandom Writer - My Collection
Want your work listed on 'Fandom Writer'? Let me know.
"There are two kinds of folks who sit around thinking about how to kill people. Psychopaths, and mystery writers. I'm the kind that pays better."